Written Answers Monday 25 June 2007

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individual farmers or crofters are registered in Scotland to receive subsidies; what total amount was paid in single farm payments and other subsidies to these farmers and crofters in each of the last three years, and what proportion of these payments was subject to conditions other than good agricultural and environmental condition.

Richard Lochhead: In 2006 there were 21,259 individual farm businesses registered in Scotland to receive subsidies, the most recent figure available for 2007 is 21,036.

  The Single Farm Payment Scheme was introduced in 2005 and payments under the scheme run from 1 December each year. The same payment window applies to the Scottish Beef Calf Scheme, Energy Crop Scheme and Protein Crop Premium Schemes. Also, the application period for the Scottish Beef Calf Scheme 2007 is open until 31 December 2007. Due to these factors I am only able to provide the full information requested for the 2005 and 2006 scheme years but have provided the most up-to-date figures for 2007, where applicable.

  Of the 21,259 farm businesses registered, there are 13,080 a year who farm in the most disadvantaged areas also receive Less Favoured Area Support (LFASS), paid in Scotland under the EC Rural Development Regulations. No figures are available for 2007.

  The detail requested is contained in the following table:

  

Scheme
2005
2006
2007


No. of Claimants
Amount Paid (£)
No. of Claimants
Amount Paid (£)
No. of Claimants
Amount Paid 
(£)


Single Farm Payment Scheme
21,302
397,005,973
20,330
396,033,507
21,036
N/A


Scottish Beef Calf Scheme
8,560
18,981,940
8,247
18,158,695
1,073
N/A


Protein Crop Premium
457
233,536
504
278,664
409
N/A


Energy Crop Scheme
147
114,758
307
255,866
386
N/A


Less Favoured Area Support
12,843
60,923,379
13,080
99,647,862
N/A
N/A



  For a farmer or crofter to receive payment under any of the above schemes full scheme conditions as well as cross compliance conditions must be met. This means that 100 percent of these payments were subject to scheme conditions other than Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions. For Less Favoured Area Support Scheme participants, they were required to respect the Good Farming Practice requirement until 2006. From 2007, these claims too will be subject to Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions. In addition, all farmers and crofters in Scotland, regardless of participation in subsidy schemes are required to respect Statutory Management conditions. These are domestic requirements relating to EC Directives and Regulations which are specified by the European Commission and are legally binding.

Animal Welfare

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether similar traceability and welfare standards are in place for beef and lamb imported from outside the EU as are required of Scottish, UK and EU farmers.

Richard Lochhead: Third Countries exporting beef and lamb into the EU are required to meet the equivalent traceability and welfare standards which apply to EU member states. The EU Food and Veterinary Office is responsible for inspecting these standards.

Courts

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many indictment cases were dealt with by Glasgow Sheriff Court in 2006.

Right Hon Elish Angiolini QC: Nine hundred and thirteen indictment cases were dealt with by Glasgow Sheriff Court in 2006-07.

Culture

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to distribute the balance of the International Touring Fund for national performing companies established by the previous administration, following its grant to the National Theatre of Scotland.

Linda Fabiani: The 2007-08 International Touring Fund of £350,000 has been allocated as follows:

  

Company
Amount
Tour Information
Date


National Theatre of Scotland
£195,000
Los Angeles and New York
October-November 2007


Scottish Chamber Orchestra 
£96,000
Germany and The Netherlands
Spain 
Belgium, France, Austria

July 2007
October 2007
February-March 2008


Royal Scottish National Orchestra 
£59,000
Germany, Austria, Croatia 
January 2008



  Scotland has world class artists who deserve to be recognised and I am delighted to be able to provide support to all of the national performing companies who requested it. I have no doubt that these tours will boost Scotland’s international image and attract new audiences to Scottish cultural life.

Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will implement the Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007 and what action it will take to promote this reform.

Kenny MacAskill: We are committed to taking forward the measures to restrict the sale of swords and non-domestic knives and work is already underway to look at a wide range of measures to tackle re-offending. This includes an extensive review of community sentences and plans for the effective management of those offenders who are given custodial sentences to reduce their risk and help them address their offending behaviour. We will seek Parliament’s views on the most effective options before finalising our proposals.

Environmental Crime

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has issued to procurators fiscal in relation to the admissibility of evidence in respect of the prosecution of environmental crime and, if no such guidance exists, what rules exist to guide fiscals on admissibility.

Frank Mulholland QC: Procurators fiscal are qualified solicitors. They are provided with appropriate training and guidance material to enable them to carry out the full range of their duties in relation to the prosecution of crime and investigation of death. This includes dealing with issues related to the admissibility of evidence such as the best evidence rule and the test of fairness which is applied by the courts when determining issues of admissibility of evidence.

  A national network of prosecutors specialising in environmental cases has been in place since 2004. These environmental specialists work closely with professionals from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and other specialist agencies and provide advice to prosecution colleagues as appropriate. In consultation with SEPA, a joint training programme for environmental specialists and SEPA lawyers has been established. The programme has been successful not only in increasing knowledge in this area but also in enhancing relationships and communication between SEPA and COPFS.

Fisheries

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it expects to achieve the decoupling of cod management from other species of fish within the EU Common Fisheries Policy.

Richard Lochhead: My aim is to secure management arrangements which provide greater stability for the Scottish fishing fleet and a sustainable fishery. I will pursue this by a number of means, including the decoupling of cod management from other species.

  Decoupling can be achieved by building on existing arrangements that are consistent with cod recovery but not driven by it. These include the management plan to establish haddock quotas that has already been agreed between the EU and Norway and the scientifically justified seasonal closure of spawning cod sites, such as that in force in certain parts of the Firth of Clyde.

  There are a wide range of other ideas that might be developed further.

  I shall be discussing these and other ideas with stakeholders over the coming months.

Fisheries

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many registered fishing boats there are in Scotland; what the estimated GDP contribution was by the fish catching sector in each of the last three years, and what proportion of total Scottish GDP this represents.

Richard Lochhead: Information on the number of Scottish fishing vessels on 31 December 2006 was published on 30 May 2007 in table 2 of the Statistical News Release presenting provisional 2006 Sea Fisheries Statistics. Copies of this publication are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 42965).

  The estimated GDP contribution by the fish catching sector was about £123 million in 2004, £148 million in 2005 and £147 million in 2006 and represent about 0.15% of Scottish GDP. These estimates are based on a report by the Fraser of Allander Institute: http://www.seafish.org/upload/file/economics/Final_I_O_Report_2.pdf.

Fisheries

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the commercial fish stocks in Scottish waters that are considered to be below safe biological limits and what steps it is taking to restore these stocks to favourable status.

Richard Lochhead: The only stocks in Scottish waters that are currently assessed by International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) as below the safe biological limit (Blim) are North Sea cod and west of Scotland cod. Both stocks are covered by EU recovery plans.

Fisheries

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since his appointment the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment has (a) met or spoken to representatives of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation and (b) met representatives of other marine industries or relevant stakeholders.

Richard Lochhead: Since my appointment I have met many stakeholders with an interest in marine matters. I have met with representatives of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation on three occasions.

Fisheries

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that, during any fisheries negotiations he attends and at other times, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment is aware of environmental, scientific and community perspectives as well as those of the fishing industry.

Richard Lochhead: I intend to treat Scotland’s fishing sector as a priority and to ensure that it has a stronger voice in international fisheries negotiations. In order to achieve this I shall be seeking direct input and advice from all those with an interest in fishing communities, including environmental scientific, and community interests. I have not yet reached a firm view on any new mechanisms required to achieve this.

Fisheries

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains committed to the objectives of the existing Sea Fisheries Strategy.

Richard Lochhead: I intend to work in partnership with the industry to take forward many of the aspirations in the Sea Fisheries Strategy and the proposals in the SeaFAR Action Plan.

  Working with the industry, I shall keep the strategy and action plan under review to make sure they remain relevant to current issues and priorities.

Fisheries

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to include representatives from any conservation organisations into any inner circle of advisers to EU fisheries negotiations under the new arrangements that the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment is establishing.

Richard Lochhead: I intend to ensure that Scotland’s fishing sector has a stronger voice in international fisheries negotiations. In order to achieve this I shall be seeking direct input and advice from all those with an interest in fishing communities, including conservation interests. I have not yet reached a firm view on any new mechanisms required to achieve this.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the risk of importing foot-and-mouth disease from South America.

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that importing beef from South America increases the risk of foot-and-mouth disease occurring in Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: In accordance with EU rules beef imported from third countries, including those in South America, must be deboned and matured. Meat originating from foot-and-mouth disease affected areas is not permitted to be exported to the EU. All animal products entering the EU must do so through a border inspection post where appropriate documentary, identity and physical checks are undertaken. This is considered to be a sufficient safeguard against foot-and-mouth disease.

Football

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to lift the ban on alcohol sales at football grounds.

Kenny MacAskill: We have no plans to lift the ban on alcohol sales at football grounds.

Health

Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address the needs of individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Shona Robison: It has been with the needs of those with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) very much in mind that the Scottish Government has been encouraging the development of the Scottish Muscle Network (a national MCN) based at Yorkhill. The network aims to improve the care provided to all Scottish neuromuscular patients, regardless of where they live, by ensuring they have access to local health, social and educational professionals who are informed about the condition and its complications. It is currently developing clinical standards of care for those with DMD.

  In line with a recommendation in the Genetics Review, a consultant clinical geneticist and a physiotherapist are being appointed as part of the Scottish Muscle Network. The clinical geneticist will be responsible for the establishment of a Scotland-wide DMD register which will amongst other things, provide a better understanding of the determinants and occurrence of disease.

  The Scottish Molecular Genetics Consortium (SMGC) offers molecular genetic tests to detect a range of single gene disorders, including DMD, in symptomatic patients, for pre-symptomatic (i.e. people who may have inherited the defect but not yet developed signs), potential carriers of the gene who would be at risk of having affected children, and for prenatal diagnosis for families who request this service.

  Early orthopaedic intervention is crucial in improving survival and quality of life, and the paediatric scoliosis service in Scotland has been designated as a national service since April 2005. Designation has brought with it increased funding of £2.2 million a year to increase the capacity of the service and reduce waiting times.

  Access to specialist cardiological care also has a significant influence on survival, given the effect of cardiomyopathy on deaths, and proposals are being developed to promote closer working between cardiologists and clinical geneticists.

  A number of other specialist children’s services, which provide further clinical input, are currently under review for example complex respiratory and neurology. The outcomes from these reviews will form the basis of the National Delivery Plan for Specialist Children’s Services in Scotland. This will be presented to the Cabinet Secretary for consideration later in 2007.

  A comprehensive review of the NHS Wheelchair and Seating Service has been carried out. The review recognised particular issues affecting such individuals, for example the lack of regular planned assessment and eligibility for powered chairs. The removal of current criteria, in a phased manner, unless they refer to safety, is one of the recommendations which ministers are currently considering with a view of responding before the end of the year.

  For young adults with the condition, the Rehabilitation Framework will ensure that there is access to rehabilitation services at home. We are also promoting the use of assistive technologies within the framework which will help support these individuals to remain as functionally independent as is possible within their own environment.

  The Scottish Government fully recognises the invaluable contribution that unpaid carers make, not just to those they care for but to the wider community, in relation to conditions such as DMD. That is why we have said that we will do more to support unpaid carers by intensifying initiatives to implement the conclusions of the Care 21 report: The future of unpaid care in Scotland. In particular, we will focus on the areas of respite, carer training, young carers and carer centre support.

  These children and young people have been identified as having very complex needs and a number of actions have been identified in Delivering a Healthy Future – An Action Framework for Children and Young People which are expected to improve services for them and their families.

Inter-Governmental Links

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Lord Advocate was first made aware of the memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments.

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Lord Advocate first had sight of the memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments.

Right Hon Elish Angiolini QC: The Memorandum of Understanding between the United Kingdom and Libya which was signed on 29 May 2007 was brought to my attention, along with a copy of the memorandum, on Friday 1 June 2007.

Inter-Governmental Links

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it become aware of the existence of a memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the existence of a memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments was communicated to the office of the First Minister.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any contact was established at either official or ministerial level with the UK Government to discuss the existence of a memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments and, if so, when.

Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-857 on 19 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Inter-Governmental Links

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any reference to a memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments was included in the official papers of the First Minister or Cabinet Secretary for Justice.

Kenny MacAskill: Yes.

Inter-Governmental Links

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it sought clarification at either official or ministerial level from the UK Government on the existence of a memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments before making an emergency statement to the Parliament and what the reason was for its position on this matter.

Kenny MacAskill: Yes. The First Minister’s statement made clear the reasons for the position taken on this matter.

Inter-Governmental Links

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate has been made of any damage to the working relationship with Westminster and Whitehall arising from the Executive’s action in relation to the memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments.

Linda Fabiani: The Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and Scottish Governments sets out a series of principles and concordats which underpin relations. So, it is unfortunate that the Prime Minister appears to have overlooked the agreements set out in the supplementary Concordat on International Relations.

  It is the Scottish Government’s intent to seek constructive relations with the UK Government, working within the structures set out in the Memorandum of Understanding. And there has already been positive engagement; including the contact between the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and his opposite numbers in UK Government, and when the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture attended the Joint Ministerial Committee on Europe.

  We will pursue open and effective dialogue, and expect to be treated as an equal partner. However, we will challenge the UK Government in a firm but courteous way when we believe Scotland’s interests are being overlooked or undermined.

Inter-Governmental Links

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether making an emergency statement without first seeking clarification from the UK Government shows a lack of willingness to work together with Westminster and Whitehall in the best interests of Scotland.

Linda Fabiani: The First Minister has made abundantly clear this administration’s determination to work constructively with the UK government. There have been good examples where engagement has worked well. But consultation in this case fell short of what was acceptable. This is a matter of concern. Since becoming aware of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Libyan government the First Minister has written personally to the Prime Minister on 7, 13 and 20 June. A response to the first letter was received from the Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, on 12 June 2007. Responses to the other letters are still awaited.

Justice

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fine defaulters have been held in prison in the last year and of these how many (a) were first offenders and (b) had never previously paid fines.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  In 2005-06, there were 6,213 fine default receptions, which were made up by 5,293 individuals. The average daily prison population of fine defaulters was 53.

  Some of these fine default receptions may have already been in prison either on remand or serving a custodial sentence at the same time as they were serving the sentence for defaulting on a fine.

  The information regarding how many were first time offenders or had never previously paid fines is unavailable.

Justice

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward the proposal to implement the presumption that offenders who are given a custodial sentence of less than six months will have that sentence turned into an equivalent punishment within the community.

Mr Kenny MacAskill: My announcement of plans to reform and revitalise community sentences to Parliament during the "Safer and Stronger" debate on 6 June 2007 will include what more can be done to shift the balance between the use of community and custodial sentences. I will report progress to Parliament in due course.

Justice

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward proposals for developing community sentences.

Kenny MacAskill: I will bring forward proposals for tough community sentences that protect the public, help offenders turn their lives around and include some payback to the community once we complete the work to examine what more can be done to improve community sentences which I announced to Parliament during the "Safer and Stronger" debate on 6 June 2007.

Justice

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward proposals for increased resources for criminal justice social work.

Kenny MacAskill: The future level of funding of criminal justice social work services will be considered during the forthcoming spending review and announced to Parliament in due course.

Justice

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a target to reduce the prison population.

Kenny MacAskill: There is no target but I have already made clear that I agree with the previous Minister for Justice that there are now too many people in our prisons who should not be there and that we need to shift the balance between prison and community punishments. This is why I announced plans to reform and revitalise community sentences to Parliament in the "Safer and Stronger" debate on 6 June 2007.

Justice

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will implement a commitment to drastically reduce the number of petty criminals in the prison population.

Kenny MacAskill: We are examining what more can be done to improve reparation and rehabilitation, to improve outcomes for persistent offenders and to drive up the quality, and change attitudes to, the delivery, of community sentences as part of our plans for their reform, announced in the "Safer and Stronger" debate on 6 June 2007.

Justice

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to extend the powers of the police to retain DNA samples and profiles longer than currently authorised.

Kenny MacAskill: I intend to commission a review into the operation of the powers of the police to retain DNA samples and profiles. I will announce the details of that review shortly. We will take decisions on whether it would be appropriate to amend those powers in light of the review.

Justice

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the comments made by Alex Salmond in answer to question SF3-27 on 7 June 2007 ( Official Report c. 517), what the Executive’s position is on the powers of the police to retain DNA samples and profiles.

Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-1066 on 25 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Justice

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many DNA samples have been taken by police from suspects in each year since 1999.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked David Mulhern, Chief Executive of the Scottish Police Services Authority, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The annual number of DNA samples taken by the police from suspects is not known. However, the annual number of DNA samples that are taken by the police from arrested or detained persons, and then developed and retained at the Scottish DNA database, is as follows:

  

Year
Number of Samples


1999
26,487


2000
21,728


2001
18,681


2002
38,930


2003
39,047


2004
42,645


2005
49,641


2006
53,537

Justice

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive in what percentage of arrests DNA samples were taken in each year since 1999.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not available centrally.

Justice

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the age is of the youngest Scot who has a DNA sample and profile retained on the DNA database.

Kenny MacAskill: As at 21 June 2007, the youngest person on the Scottish DNA database was nine years and four months old.

Justice

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged under 18 have a DNA sample and profile retained on the DNA database.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked David Mulhern, Chief Executive of the Scottish Police Services Authority, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Of the 216,263 DNA profiles held on the Scottish DNA database at 21 June 2007, 7,292 profiles were from persons under the age of 18.

Justice

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged under 16 have a DNA sample and profile retained on the DNA database.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked David Mulhern, Chief Executive of the Scottish Police Services Authority, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Of the 216,263 DNA profiles held on the Scottish DNA database at 21 June 2007, 2,386 profiles were from persons under the age of 16.

Meat Industry

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure the full traceability of beef imports.

Richard Lochhead: All imports of beef from third countries must enter the EU through border inspection ports where documentary and identity checks are undertaken. Imports from Third Countries are a matter for the EU Commission. I have discussed this with the other UK agriculture ministers and the UK will be making representations to the EU Commission. I shall also be writing to the Commission.

Meat Industry

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to raise the issues of traceability and method of production of imported beef with the European Union in the near future.

Richard Lochhead: I have discussed this with the other UK agriculture ministers and the UK will be making representations to the EU Commission about these matters in relation to Brazilian beef production. I shall also be writing to the Commission.

Meat Industry

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) supermarkets and (b) the European Union about the equivalence of production standards for beef within and outwith the EU.

Richard Lochhead: No such discussions have taken place yet but I shall be writing to the EU Commission about this matter in due course.

  NHS Hospitals

Meat Industry

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who will be consulted before appointments are made to the independent scrutiny panel on NHS accident and emergency provision.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations will be represented on the independent scrutiny panel on NHS accident and emergency provision.

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to appoint members to the independent panel established to scrutinise revised proposals for health services in Lanarkshire.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-904 on 22 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Meat Industry

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the independent panel established to scrutinise revised proposals for health services in Lanarkshire will be appointed.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-903 on 22 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

National Health Service

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the contract to build and provide Airdrie Resource Centre will be signed.

Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for NHS Lanarkshire.

Nuclear Power

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of today’s publication of the consultation paper, Managing Radioactive Waste Safely - A framework for implementing geological disposal, by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, what Scotland’s policy is on the long-term management of nuclear waste.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has explained to the UK Government that it does not endorse the consultation document published today.

  In July 2006 The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) recommended geological disposal as the best available approach for the long-term management of higher activity radioactive waste. As it would take a number of decades to develop a geological disposal facility CoRWM also recommended a robust programme of interim storage until a facility was available or in case a suitable site could not be found.

  Its recommendations on geological disposal and storage were accepted by the previous Scottish Administration, UK government and the other devolved administrations in October 2006 and it was agreed there would be public consultation on the government’s framework on the implementation process, which has been published today.

  We are committed to dealing responsibly with Scottish Nuclear Waste in Scotland and continue to support the CoRWM recommendations for a robust programme of interim storage and would also support further joint research on other long-term management options. However, we do not accept that it is right to seek to bury nuclear waste, which will remain radioactive for thousands of years, in underground sites. This out of sight, out of mind policy should not extend to Scotland.

  Our policy for waste in Scotland is to support long-term "near surface, near site" storage facilities so that the waste is monitorable and retrievable and the need for transporting it over long distances is minimal. We will be progressing this in conjunction with the regulators and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

  We will continue to work closely with UK Government and Devolved Administrations in other areas of radioactive waste policy where we share agreed objectives, including remaining active participants of UK-wide policy forums and networks. We intend to remain engaged with the CoRWM process insofar as it deals with recommendations for storage.

People with Disabilities

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of parking spaces is currently required to be designated for holders of blue badge parking permits.

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used to determine the proportion of parking spaces required to be designated for holders of blue badge parking permits.

Stewart Stevenson: The proportion of parking spaces designated for Blue Badge parking permits are set out in Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 17 and in the Scottish Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990 . SPP 17 sets out the minimum car parking provision for disabled people to be provided in new retail, recreation and leisure developments. Planning Advice Note 75: Planning for Transport  (PAN 75) gives further guidance on deriving local parking standards. SPP 17 also notes that the Building Standards as amended also set requirements for parking spaces for disabled people. The following table sets out the minimum car parking standards for disabled people as set out in SPP 17 .

  

 
Car Park Maximum Standard Size 
up to 200 Spaces
Car Park Maximum Standard Size Over 200 Spaces


Employment Uses
1 space per disabled employee plus 2 spaces or 
5% of maximum standard size whichever is greater.
6 spaces plus 2% of maximum standard size.


Retail, Leisure and Recreational Uses
3 spaces or 6% of maximum standard size 
whichever is greater.
4 spaces plus 4% of maximum standard size.



  The Building Standards Regulations 1990 state that a ratio of 1 in 20 spaces should be designated for disabled parking, but these regulations have different purposes and adopt different approaches to SPP17 and where their requirements for parking for disabled people are different, SPP 17 advises that whichever is the higher standard should be used.

People with Disabilities

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is has carried out any studies into whether the criteria used to determine the proportion of parking spaces required to be designated for holders of blue badge parking permits is adequate to meet need, both in general and for specific types of establishment such as health facilities and crematoria.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive has not carried out any such studies.

People with Disabilities

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the regulations and guidance on the proportion of parking spaces required to be designated for holders of blue badge parking permits both in general and for specific types of establishment such as health facilities and crematoria.

Stewart Stevenson: The Executive has no such plans.

Police

Stefan Tymkewycz (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Parliament events involving VIP or Royal visitors required an additional police presence in each year since 1999, broken down by police authority area.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally. The deployment of resources to police events in the Parliament and elsewhere in the capital is a matter for the Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police.

Police

Stefan Tymkewycz (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Parliament events involving VIP or Royal visitors and requiring an additional police presence are anticipated over the next six months, broken down by police authority area.

Kenny MacAskill: Detailed information relating to the security arrangements for forthcoming high-profile events is not available. Individual assessments are made for each visit. It would be inappropriate to comment on these in detail as this might compromise security and put lives at risk.

Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many DNA samples and profiles have been retained by the police that would otherwise have been weeded since the powers under the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 came into force.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked David Mulhern, Chief Executive of the Scottish Police Services Authority, to respond. His response is as follows:

  As at 21 June 2007, a total of 646 DNA profiles had been retained on the Scottish DNA database by virtue of section 18A of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, as inserted when section 83 of the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 came into force on 1 January 2007.

Prison Service

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners there were in May 2007, also broken down by the number sentenced to (a) four years or more, (b) from six months to four years and (c) under six months.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The provisional average daily population by sentence length for December 2006, which is the most recent month for which data can be released, is given in the following table.

  

Sentence Type
Population


Remand
1,547


Less than 6 months
587


6 months - less than 4 years
2,042


4 years or over
2,941


Total
7,116

Prison Service

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will implement the commitment to move £35 million from the prison budget to fund community sentences.

Kenny MacAskill: Proposals for the future funding of criminal justice services will be considered during the forthcoming spending review and announced to Parliament in due course.

Public Holidays

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of public holidays observed by local authorities is uniform across Scotland and, if not, how many are observed by each authority.

Linda Fabiani: There is no concept of national "public holidays" in Scotland. There are bank holidays which are set out in the Schedule to the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 and appointed by Royal Proclamation. There are also local holidays which are determined by local authorities based on tradition, such as trade holidays. They can vary widely even within local authority areas.

  Public holidays observed by local authorities are known as "local holidays". The number of local holidays across Scotland is not uniform.

  The numbers and dates of local holidays are for local authorities to determine following consultation with local stakeholders. They can vary from town to town within a local authority area. The Scottish Executive does not hold a central record.

Roads

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the full dualling of the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness, including the preparation of feasibility reports, start dates for each section and completion dates.

Stewart Stevenson: The Aberdeen to Inverness Multi-Modal Transport Corridor Study, and the outcome of a design study for a dual carriageway improvement of the A96 between Inverness and Inverness Airport will feed directly into the Strategic Transport Projects Review.

  The next round of major new investment in the trunk road network will emerge from the Strategic Transport Projects Review, which will examine the longer terms needs of Scotland’s nationally strategic transport network to develop the investment plan for 2012 to 2022. The Strategic Transport Projects Review is due to report in summer 2008.

Roads

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements it plans to carry out to the A7 between Edinburgh and Langholm.

Stewart Stevenson: The A7 between Edinburgh and Galashiels is a local road and is the responsibility of Midlothian and Scottish Borders councils. Current developments in relation to the trunk road section of the A7 between Galashiels and the Border includes the A7 Auchenrivock Improvement Project which will upgrade 2.3 kilometres of single carriageway road to improve overtaking opportunities immediately south of Langholm and the Selkirk bypass feasibility study.

  The next round of major new investment in the trunk road network will emerge from the Strategic Transport Projects Review, which will examine the longer term needs of Scotland’s nationally strategic transport network to develop the investment plan for 2012 to 2022. The Strategic Transport Projects Review is due to report in summer 2008.